Is Legolas afraid to get his nails dirty?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Faramir Jones

Morthoron, I don't recall the dwarves being imprisoned for poaching. The ElvenKing said, in response to Balin's question, that it was a crime to wander in his realm without leave. He also mentioned that they stirred up the spiders. Therefore, he was going to keep them in jail until they gave him a reasonable explanation for what they were doing in his kingdom.

Hmmm...I seem to recall that Thranduil's complaint also included the Dwarves molesting his people (ie., interrupting their festivities), and the Dwarves were also chasing a white deer about the forest (symbolic I know, but evidently under the province of Thranduil). I don't have access to The Hobbit at work (because if I did, nothing would get done), so quote away those who have the time and inclination..

[Faramir Jones]

In terms of what the dwarves were accused of by the ElvenKing, firstly Thorin was asked, 'Why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their merrymaking?'

Secondly, after all the other dwarves were captured and Balin demanded to know why they were being detained, the king explained:

'It is a crime to wander in my realm without leave. Do you forget that you were in my kingdom, using the road that my people made? Did you not three times pursue and trouble my people in the forest and rouse the spiders with your riot and clamour?'

He said that after 'all the disturbance' they made, he had a right to know what brought them here.

We appear to have four main sets of allegations against the dwarves:

1. Entering the realm illegally.
2. Assault.
3. Harassment.
4. Causing a disturbance, disorderly conduct, a breach of the peace, or any combination of the three. (I've put them together, because all three overlap.)